CMI partnership

According to Roly Acosta, CEO and President of CMI’s owner, JAG Companies, the origins of this story began over 65 years ago, with founder Jim Caldwell. A friend of Roly’s father, Jim is a 97-year-old World War 2 veteran, who started his own company with a get-it-done mentality. “He was innovative and took on challenges that others would not, measuring the risks,” says Roly. “And that’s the legacy we try to continue.” 

Today, CMI is a renowned contractor, focusing on marine construction, submarine power cables, fibre-optic submarine cables and systems worldwide. Often working in some of the most beautiful waterside locations in the US, its main challenges are time restraints and the geology of the seabed. 

Traditionally, the company has used a towable sled with a plough behind it for cable installation. However, staying to true to its innovative roots – and with industry-leading ambitions – CMI wanted to improve the process and recognised the potential in the growing renewable energy offshore wind market. 

“I was involved in the initial conversations about a new piece of equipment that would elevate who we are as a submarine cable installer,” says Roly. “We put our money where our mouth is when we say we want to be an industry leader – investing in tools, people and projects. We needed a differentiator, and saw an opportunity to get ahead of the market.”

With ideas, sketches and a vision of where they wanted to be, the experienced team at CMI soon realised there was only one company they could trust to deliver what was needed. “A few of our long-term employees knew Royal IHC, and when it was time to ask who can do this for us, their name came right to the top. There was not much debate.” 

Royal IHC’s reputation for developing innovative solutions, and its expertise in the global cable installation sector bode well, but it was the enthusiasm of the people involved that stood out for Roly. 

Once CMI and Royal IHC started to collaborate, the Amphibious Hi-Traq® Jetter quickly began to evolve from a trenching machine to a giant remote-control vehicle capable of moving underwater on uneven terrain. “That is what happens when you get the right people in the room,” says Roly. “Someone has an idea of what they think they want – the other side says, ‘I know what you want, and this is what we are going to deliver'." Royal IHC listened to what we wanted, then guided us to where we needed to be.”

The collaboration continued throughout the entire process, from design to engineering, and fabrication to final testing. CMI received regular reports from Royal IHC on the build progress, including suggestions for further improvements along the way. “It opened our minds – what if we needed to go a little deeper, have a higher velocity of water, or accommodate a larger pump in the future? Royal IHC would say, ‘No problem’.”

Identifying points that could be tweaked improved the level of satisfaction for both companies. “That’s been a unique aspect of this relationship – both sides have not been afraid to mention when there was something that just did not look right. And especially on the Royal IHC side, if they did not like how something performed in a test, up front they told us all about it, with a solution of how they were going to address it. How often do you get that level of service?”

As an avid LinkedIn aficionado, Roly followed the whole process online from initial line drawings to fabrication, and could experience Royal IHC’s excitement through its social media presence. “It was like they were delivering a baby, and we were watching it grow, it was great for us to see the excitement of the Royal IHC personnel building  the vehicle.”

“Dad selected the rhino as our family’s spirit animal, and to represent the company, after seeing one on an African safari holiday,” explains Roly. “He arrived home with a wooden carving of a rhino and put it in the office. My dad was a big guy and said: ‘It's big, fat and ugly – just like our business and industry’. And he said, ‘When a rhino gets into trouble, it puts its head down and runs through things – and asks questions later’.”

Having passed away last summer, sadly Juan did not get to see the final product, but knew that CMI was going down this path. Roly refers to his father as “the ultimate role model”, and is inspired by the drive and ambitions of his parents and grandparents, who emigrated to the USA from Cuba. Juan founded Northeast Remsco Construction in 1978, a heavy civil construction company, that is also now owned by JAG Companies.

"My dad taught me that the possibilities in the US are far greater than anywhere else. And while I am American, my Cuban culture instilled by my family is what got me to where I am today.”

The SeaRhino is integral to the second-generation story of the companies founded by Roly’s father and his friend, Jim. It epitomises their aspiration to be industry leaders, take risks and use collaborative efforts to find new solutions. “When I told Jim we were buying this vehicle, he just shook his head – he could not believe how far we have taken the company that he started, and he is excited for us for where we are going.”

With origins in Cuba, New Jersey, and the UK, and some inspiration from Africa, this unique subsea tracked trenching vehicle is the start of the next chapter for both CMI and Royal IHC. In the short-term, it will open new opportunities for CMI and help it to achieve its potential in the US market. “We are in the mix with several projects from working for investor-owned utilities to offshore wind developers, and it may become a solution for a renewable energy project under contract,” says Roly.

And in the long-term, it represents the start of a long-lasting relationship as CMI intends to remain at the forefront of the industry. “Royal IHC has impressed us with their capabilities, cooperation, and open communication. It really made us feel comfortable. We will certainly turn to them for our future needs. You see the pride, when they show you something they are manufacturing – and that is who we want to be working with.”